Christmas

While the kids were opening their pajamas on Christmas Eve, the doorbell rang and my visiting teachers had shown up to carol.  They were awesome!

 

We read Luke 2, put out homemade cookies for Santa, and said goodnight to the kids.  Then Santa came!  I also hear that Mrs. Claus and two grandparent-ly elves also helped put everything together.

Santa apparently thought it would be wise to give Ben a date night themed stocking.  He was also wise to give me a ton of chocolate.  It was the only thing on my list.

On Christmas morning, Ben and I woke up just before 6.  The kids still weren't awake and we weren't about to fall back asleep, so we woke them up at 6:30 to go downstairs.  They were pretty excited!

Shock.  Skyler didn't even realize he had a brand new bike until a half hour later.

Ella loved her headband crown.

Christmas Eve Ben: "The kids are NOT going to ride their bikes in the house."

Christmas Day Ben: "Kids, you want to ride your bikes in the house?!"

Cookies, pumpkin pie, and milk -- breakfast of champions.

 

When Nanni and Papa got here at 8 we ate breakfast casserole and some pumpkin pie, and then we got started with the presents.

 

Nanni and Papa gave Lily this really pretty dress.  Ella, being a typical sister, immediately stole it and tried to put it on.  This is one of the very few times I've ever seen Lily get mad at Ella.

Opening Aunt April's presents!

Grandmum and Pop Pop gave Ella some cute outfits....

And Lily and Skyler received some really cool flashlights.

 

By the end of present opening we were exhausted and we were ready to put the kids down for naps.  We had a delicious Christmas dinner of filet mignon (3rd year in a row.  We started when I was super sick while preggers with Ella and have continued since.  Ben hopes this is a permanent tradition), potato salad, sweet potato casserole, cranberry sauce, and stuffing.  We played games with the kids and then we said bye to Nanni and Papa.

Honestly, so many of our kids' presents were second hand, but they had no idea so it didn't matter.  Also, Ben had tried for days to convince the kids that the only things they were getting for Christmas were oranges and diapers.  They of course didn't believe him, but they were taken by surprise when they found oranges and diapers in their stockings.  Lily and Skyler were oh so generous and gave the diapers to Ella and Thad.

But maybe my favorite part of the day was watching Lily and Skyler take turns doing this: